The Pure Uncut.

July 29, 2013

Hip Hop Hooray!

Today’s post comes from a good friend and fellow Hip Hop Junkie, Rain. Rain is the founder of “Border Patrol” which I happen to be a part of. Border Patrol is an organization dedicated to the preservation of creative music of all genres. You can reach Rain @RAINofBP. So let’s all welcome Rain to Corner Patrol by spreading love like it’s the Brooklyn way and give him a soul clap.

RAIN is your above average Jersey Boy who is an avid lover of music, sports, science and history. Growing up I fell in love with the hip hop culture completely fascinated with its innovation and expression of the urban youth that I was a part of. That love caused me to immerse myself into all the core elements of hip hop and become one of its biggest advocates as I have noticed its steady creative decline as its popularity has increased
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Ladies and gentlemen and hip hoppers of all ages, I’d like to welcome you to the first edition of RAIN’s album review. Now your first question should be what makes you RAIN a credible source of knowledge to do album reviews? Good question folks, and the answer is I’ve been a hip hopper since the days of Run’s Adidas, Cool J’s Troops and Pat Ewing’s Georgetown Dunks.

That being said I know a good album when I hear it. With the recent releases of Jay-Z’s Magna Carta…Holy Grail and Kanye’s Yeezus you’d probably figure this would be a great place for RAIN to start? Wrong!!!!! My first album review will be on the best album this side of J Cole’s Born Sinner, which is Statik Selektah’s Extended Play. I’m giving this album 4 1/2 General Stars for its musical backdrop which was handled by Statik himself except for one track which was co produced by the Alchemist and its lyrical content (yes lyrics!!!!!) from the veterans and up and comers featured on the album. Statik always does a tremendous job of mixing these emcees together to produce high quality and bump worthy material.

The album opens with Reloaded a 90’s boom bap infused track with Action Bronson, Terminology and Tony Touch setting the tone for what is to come. The next track Bird’s Eye View is not only the albums crowning achievement but quite possibly one of this year’s top ten tracks. Statik gives us a smooth soulful track that has you thinking Pete Rock or late great Dilla. with Raekwon, hip hop purists favorite youngin Joey Bada$$, and Black Thought giving us some memorable verses with Thought probably spitting the verse of the year.

This track will be on constant repeat and make you forget that there plenty more bangers left. “East Coas”t another 90’s style banger with NORE and Lil Fame of MOP gives you a quick history lesson in their eyes. 21 & Over has Sean Price and Mac Miller dropping verses over a adrenaline laced track that will have you red lining on the highway. Spark is a smooth horn Premo styled track that has Action and Joey going in like this was 94-96 all over again. The next five tracks (Make Believe, Pinky Ring, Funeral Season, Bring ‘Em Up Dead, Camouflage Dons) are your straight up thug it out songs with various hard hitters from all regions trading bars about keeping it real in the booth and the street.

Big City of Dreams is yet another ode to the Big Apple but this time it’s featuring all up and comers in the NYC. Gz, Pimps, Hustlers and My Hoe features underground legends Slaine, Blu, Evidence and Reks, and has them stepping out of their element to discuss the oldest profession known to man over some smooth chopped up loops crisp drums. Love & War is another thug it up banger featuring Freeway and Easy Money (one of Statik’s artists). 100 Stacks is a west side ridah theme with Strong Arm Steady and Seattle’s JFK trading verses. Live From The Era is another album highlight with Joey Bada$$ and his crew Pro Era going hard over a classic ALC track giving any avid hip hop head a hope of the future of hip hop. Game Break has Lecrae, Terminology, and Posdnous talking about the ups and downs of the game over a lovely choir piano riff.

The album ends with another highlight with Home as Talib Kweli drops a jewel for the mind about what home means to him over Reflection Eternal style beat. Overall if you are dying of thirst for that quality hip hop that you just can’t find on the radio these days then go cop Extended Play and give it an extended play.